YouTube and the American Civil War

      The following video can be found on YouTube. It is loosely based on the fight at the “Dead Angle” during the battles around Kennesaw Mountain near Marietta Georgia on June 27, 1864. The particulars related in the song are described in Sam R. Watkins' “Company Aytch” and stay pretty near the account presented by Watkins. YouTube is not a place I would recommend one go for source material although there are some videos from some well known historians sprinkled in if you take the time to look. I have found some old songs after reading the title in an old book or magazine and sometimes I chance upon the song as rendered by present day artists.

      What makes this song and video so appealing is that it uses less footage from movies like “Gettysburg” to portray the action. There are some scenes from the movie but most of the action is provided by re-enactors. It is not full of “still” shots or artwork, but it blends them into the whole rather well. It stays pretty close to historical fact as far as Watkins and Maury Grays are concerned. Every unit mentioned in the song was at the “Dead Angle” as were Walter Hood, who in fact died there, and Colonel Field. All in all it is one of the best videos I have seen on the subject of the American Civil War. Give it a look, and when you are finished browse around. You might be surprised at what you find!

The Picket